p. 12 | A Lesson from the Plants by MRS. L. M. MOREHOUSE

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Tacoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · May 16, 1907

A Lesson from the Plants

By MRS. L. M. MOREHOUSE

MRS. L. M. MOREHOUSE

When I found my plants in the cool dark cellar showing signs of life, I brought them out and placed them in the light, but not in the sun. As the plants received new life, and the new leaves developed, the dead leaves began to drop. As I was tempted to break off the unsightly leaves, I was suddenly impressed with the lesson for me to handle my fellow men with care. As the plant gains strength, it can be set in the sunlight; then as the new life flows through the plant, the old dead leaves will drop off of themselves, and the stem will not be injured, as it might be by our hand.

So, I thought, when the Spirit of God enters the human heart, and we see little tokens of a new life, let us remember that that person is but a “babe in Christ,” and can not yet bear the strong rays that we older ones can. Let us deal gently with such ones, and not be in a hurry to strip off the defects that mar their Christian character, but kindly lead them to the greater light, and let the Sun of Righteousness do the rest as they become filled with his new life.

I am sure that we often take too much upon ourselves, and God would be better pleased if we kept “hands off,” and pleaded more with him to do the pruning in his all-wise way.

Ceresco, Mich.